Halfback Nic White has kicked his way into the Wallabies line-up for the rugby Test against South Africa and again booted Will Genia back to the bench.
White will wear the No.9 jersey in their Rugby Championship Test at Newlands on Saturday, rewarded after his stand-out performance in the last-start, one-point win over Argentina.
White’s inclusion against the Pumas was initially thought to be based around giving Genia a break, but McKenzie was impressed with his work in the wet and windy conditions in Perth.
The Wallabies need to counter the Springboks’ pressure game, particularly with rain predicted for Cape Town on the weekend.
The Australians are looking to turn the tables after their disappointing 38-12 loss earlier this month in Brisbane and earn their first win in Cape Town since 1992.
Australia has also bolstered its backline against the physical Boks by including imposing outside centre Tevita Kuridrani for his run-on debut.
Kuridrani, who has played two Tests this year against New Zealand off the bench, will give their backline extra presence with his hulking 196cm, 102kg frame.
He will take the place of Adam Ashley-Cooper, who will move to wing following the axing of regular winger James O’Connor and injury to Nick Cummins.
Brumbies teammate and Wallabies No.8 Ben Mowen said White could help beat the Springboks, who have super-boot Morne Steyn, at their own game.
“Any time you play against a South African side you have to be able to take them on in the kicking battle because that’s a huge part of the way they play,” Mowen said.
“Particularly when Morne is at 10 both with the Bulls and South Africa, that’s been a huge part of their game so you’ve got to understand that it’s coming and be able to take it on and challenge them in the same area.”
Mowen believed the combination between White and five-eighth Quade Cooper, who has retained the starting jersey, would only get better in its second outing.
“That was the first opportunity to play together against Argentina and previous to that they’d had two or three training sessions.
“You get a lot of confidence out of getting a win like that with your combination.”
The only other change in the line-up to the side that overcame Argentina is the inclusion of skipper James Horwill, who has overcome a hamstring strain that has kept him put the past two Tests.
Horwill has pushed Kane Douglas out of the 22 while veteran prop Benn Robinson has been named on the bench for his first Rugby Championship appearance of the year.
Wallabies: Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Lealiifano, Joe Tomane, Quade Cooper, Nic White, Ben Mowen, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy, James Horwill (capt), Rob Simmons, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, James Slipper. Res: Saia Faingaa, Benn Robinson, Sekope Kepu, Sitaleki Timani, Ben McCalman, Will Genia, Matt Toomua.
